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Artist
Alabína
12+ albums
moroccofolkfemale vocalistloungeafrica
about
(NOTE: Both "Alabína" and "Alabina" are correct transliterations of the group's Arabic name. The group has used both over its career. European releases use Alabína.) Ishtar Alabína was born and raised in Israel. Her parents are Moroccan and Egyptian. She speaks and sings in Arabic, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and English; she also says she "half-speaks" "Moroccan." Ishtar began performing in clubs at age 15 and continued even in the Israeli army, where she served as an helicopter technician. Though she was born Eti Zach, she chose the name "Ishtar," a mesopotamian goddess, because her grandmother called her Ester, which "with her Egyptian accent it sounded like Ishtar," she said. As the lead singer of Alabína, Ishtar frequently sings in Arabic, complementing the Spanish of Los Niños de Sara. She often sings Arabic-style, with a wavering voice and trilling. She also sings Hebrew songs, sometimes songs from her childhood, only alone, however — not with Alabina. Occasionally she joins Los Niños in Spanish. On her own, she frequently sings French. Nine out of twelve songs in her album The Voice of Alabína are in French — and she has two songs in English: "C'Est La Vie My Baby" (Truly (Emet)) and "Last Kiss" (The Voice of Alabina). Ishtar is frequently featured on Alabína album covers. She has dyed blond hair, which is sometimes curly, and dark brown eyes. She has been noted for her provocative dress in pictures and at concerts. On her own, Ishtar has produced three albums: The
